an easy way of describing them is to think of these as miniature versions of a view camera, or monorail camera, the bottom is called the optical bench (also called a 'focussing rail' in 135 format language) , the front and back are called standards, the lens and camera standard.
Scot, I have the Contax bellows you described. What adapters do I need to connect it to a Nikon D800 camera at one end and a Nikon lens at the other please
Good video with so many informations! Is it possible to copy 35mm slides with the Contax/Yashica bellows and the Contax slide copier using a micro 4/3 system, I mean copy the entire picture without loosing part of the image? I own a Yashica 55mm 2.8 macro and a Tokina 90mm 2.5 macro that I could use for this purpose. Tks
Great video. Thanks for sharing. I like the way that the Canon came with a holder / stand so that you can stand it up and use it that way. Can I ask could I use a Nikon camera with the Canon bellows by using an lens mount adapter ?. Would I lose any functions by doing this ?.............PS. Do you still have the Canon one for sale ?.
There are Nikon bellows out there as well. Essentially there appears to be 2 more modern styles of bellows that were made by third parties as shown and than appear to have been rebranded by the main companies of the time. Most mirrorless cameras can be adopted to different brands just needs a lens mount adapter. The thing is to find the combination that best works for you Contax sells at a premium but is exactly the same as Yashica right down to the mount. If you start searching bellows on Ebay you will see some resemble others. I think the Nikon PB6 is similar to Canon style wise.
It kind of looks like the Canon rail is also arca swiss compatible? Maybe you'd have to remove the gear part but the overall shape of the lower part seems very similar to the Contax?
@@Scot_Photo Thank you, that's good to know. I think I'll still have to go with the Canon though, it's much cheaper and looks just as stable - though it's not as easy to adapt on the lens-side.
@@Crispy_Bee I like them both but having yashica lenses I use my Yashica / Contax. My Canon set is up for sale on Ebay right now www.ebay.com/itm/225030500225 if you would like to make an offer : )
@@Scot_Photo that would be tempting but I'm from the other side of the globe ;-) So shipping and import duty/taxes would make that very expensive - but I'm already building a set of my own!
Great video thanks for some great information. I have just bought the Canon FD bellows to use with my Fuji X-T2 and I must say it's one hell of a chunk of metal. I am mainly going to be using it for copying some slides but still awaiting the last few step-up and step down rings in the post to get it all together. Going to try a Nikon 75mm enlarger lens on it for slides not really 100% sure its the best lens? After reading up and watching a few videos my understanding is the lens will be better for the flat slide and also the 75mm to allow for the 1.5 crop factor. Any thoughts?
I think your on the right track for slide copying with apsc and the Canon bellows is better for you for sure. As much as I love the contax / Yashica version it will not give you the extra distance from lens to slide that you will need and the Canon bellows allows.
Thanks. Haven't done much macro with a bellows for decades mostly use a macro lens, 50mm or 100mm, now back to the bellows because it cooler!
an easy way of describing them is to think of these as miniature versions of a view camera, or monorail camera, the bottom is called the optical bench (also called a 'focussing rail' in 135 format language) , the front and back are called standards, the lens and camera standard.
An interesting, well put together video. You gained another subscriber here.
Scot, I have the Contax bellows you described. What adapters do I need to connect it to a Nikon D800 camera at one end and a Nikon lens at the other please
Good video with so many informations! Is it possible to copy 35mm slides with the Contax/Yashica bellows and the Contax slide copier using a micro 4/3 system, I mean copy the entire picture without loosing part of the image? I own a Yashica 55mm 2.8 macro and a Tokina 90mm 2.5 macro that I could use for this purpose. Tks
Great video. Thanks for sharing. I like the way that the Canon came with a holder / stand so that you can stand it up and use it that way. Can I ask could I use a Nikon camera with the Canon bellows by using an lens mount adapter ?. Would I lose any functions by doing this ?.............PS. Do you still have the Canon one for sale ?.
There are Nikon bellows out there as well. Essentially there appears to be 2 more modern styles of bellows that were made by third parties as shown and than appear to have been rebranded by the main companies of the time. Most mirrorless cameras can be adopted to different brands just needs a lens mount adapter. The thing is to find the combination that best works for you Contax sells at a premium but is exactly the same as Yashica right down to the mount. If you start searching bellows on Ebay you will see some resemble others. I think the Nikon PB6 is similar to Canon style wise.
@@Scot_Photo Thanks for the reply Scot. Very helpful.
It kind of looks like the Canon rail is also arca swiss compatible? Maybe you'd have to remove the gear part but the overall shape of the lower part seems very similar to the Contax?
The Canon is much narrower in it's base so although having a similar profile it is not wide enough to attach to an Arca style mount.
@@Scot_Photo Thank you, that's good to know. I think I'll still have to go with the Canon though, it's much cheaper and looks just as stable - though it's not as easy to adapt on the lens-side.
@@Crispy_Bee I like them both but having yashica lenses I use my Yashica / Contax. My Canon set is up for sale on Ebay right now www.ebay.com/itm/225030500225 if you would like to make an offer : )
@@Scot_Photo that would be tempting but I'm from the other side of the globe ;-)
So shipping and import duty/taxes would make that very expensive - but I'm already building a set of my own!
How did ansel adams use them
Great video thanks for some great information. I have just bought the Canon FD bellows to use with my Fuji X-T2 and I must say it's one hell of a chunk of metal. I am mainly going to be using it for copying some slides but still awaiting the last few step-up and step down rings in the post to get it all together. Going to try a Nikon 75mm enlarger lens on it for slides not really 100% sure its the best lens? After reading up and watching a few videos my understanding is the lens will be better for the flat slide and also the 75mm to allow for the 1.5 crop factor. Any thoughts?
I think your on the right track for slide copying with apsc and the Canon bellows is better for you for sure. As much as I love the contax / Yashica version it will not give you the extra distance from lens to slide that you will need and the Canon bellows allows.
I have not copy a slide in 40 years.